Winners of the Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) will be able to ascend the stage at the historic Forum Melbourne in November, in a glamorous first for Australia’s premier interior design awards program.

Formerly the State Theatre and now one of Melbourne’s most popular live music venues, the Forum will host the IDEA 2024 Gala on Friday 29 November.

A slice of Melbourne’s architectural history

American cinema architect John Eberson first designed this Melbourne landmark in 1928 in association with local architects Bohringer, Taylor and Johnson. 

Located opposite Federation Square and just a stone’s throw away from Flinders Street Station, the Forum’s Moorish minarets, jewelled clock tower, copper Saracenic dome and rich pressed cement decoration are instantly recognisable for Melbournians, and live music fans in particular. 

According to the Victorian Heritage Register, the Forum was built at the climax of the cinema construction boom years. But unlike most picture palaces, the auditorium design aimed to create the illusion of a walled garden, decorated with statues, a sky blue ceiling, twinkling stars and projected clouds. 

The interior incorporates Italian medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Spanish Mission styles alongside classical Roman and Renaissance architectural forms, creating an other-worldly atmosphere for arts events. 

IDEA enters the Forum Melbourne

Contemporary design will be celebrated inside these historic walls on Friday 29 November.

The 2024 IDEA Gala is set to bring its usual night of delicious food, Four Pillars Gin cocktails, dancing and, of course, the IDEA winners announcement at the awards ceremony.

IDEA entrants have already had the opportunity to secure their tickets to the Australian design community’s party of the year. There’s still time to enter – entries close at midnight this Sunday 2 June.

General admission tickets for the IDEA 2024 gala will be on sale later in the year. Sign up to the Australian Design Review newsletter at the top right corner of this page for updates. 

Lead image by WANG.PC.

See what happened at the IDEA Gala 2023.